Today was supposed to be the Kona wrapup. We had one or two more products to showcase and then wanted to dive into the Kona bike count. And then Silca decided to drop FOUR new products on us. So the Kona wrapup will have to wait until tomorrow. Today is Silca-day. And to kick it off we have there new Ypsilon Y-Wrench – or just maybe the perfect tool to leave in your go bag.
The Silca Ypsilon Y-Wrench
The Ypsilon (pronounced ip.si.lon) is Silca’s take on the y-wrench.A tool that I am sure most of us have used one at some point while wrenching a bike. Here at AeroGeeks HQ we are fans of y-wrench mostly due to the ergonomic benefits that make it more convenient and more enjoyable to use. Most tools in this layout feature 4mm, 5mm and 6mm keys; meaning that the wrenches for some of the most common use cases in cycling are readily available in one tool (though we would appreciate a torx on there more often). The shape of the y-wrench also offers superior control and stability over traditional hex keys, especially in tighter work spaces.
Unlike traditional y-wrench designs, Silca’s Ypsilon is customizable and adaptable to the mechanic’s preferences. This is accomplished by using a ¼” bit collet with magnetic attachment in place of one of the hex wrenches. This departure from the traditional y-wrench design was inspired by Silca’s T-Ratchet + Ti Torque kit, and means that Ypsilon can easily transform into any tool you need simply by swapping out the 3rd bit (and there is the solution for our torx needs!) The other two ends of the tool 4mm and 5mm hex keys, common to many fasteners across cycling.
Another key benefit of Ypsilon is the tight tolerances of the keys and bits. Tighter tolerances mean a better tool fit which drastically decreases the likelihood of rounding out fastener heads. These tight tolerances, combined with the CrV steel spine of the tool make Ypsilon incredibly durable. A lightweight composite body with ergonomic grips provide good comfort and control with the contact points of your hand.
The Ypsilon will be available in three versions – Home Kit, Travel Kit, and Wrench. The Ypsilon Home Kit was inspired by the Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials kit and comes a custom Birchwood box and a range of Hex, Torx and Screw bits that sit in a customizable foam insert with an msrp of $108. The Ypsilon Travel Kit comes with everything that the Home Kit comes with minus the box for an msrp of $74. And the Ypsilon Wrench, with no extra bits will sell for $36.
Our Thoughts
We actually got a first glance of the Ypsilon as we were starting to work on our Holiday Gift Guide a few weeks ago and got pretty excited. We are big fans of keeping a simple to use (but really effective) multi tool both in our car and right by our work stand. Something we can easily grab for a quick adjustment before or after a ride. At first glance the Ypsilon looks to be perfect for that job. We expect the wrench by itself to be the biggest seller – but we also think the Home Kit would make a great holiday gift (and would look amazing in our pain cave). So that makes one new Silca release – three more to go!